Golf-ball.



PATENTED JUNE 23, 1903.

C. T. THOMPSON.

GOLF BALL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

FIG 1- FIG 2.

WITNESSE 1w: NORRIS PETE! co woruuwo. WASHINGTON, nv c.

UNITED STATES Patented June 23, 1903.

PATENT OFFIcE.

GOLF-BALL.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 731,821, dated June 23,1903.

Application filed February 5, 1902. Serial No. 92,613. (No model.)

To all whom it mag concern.-

Be it known thatI, CHARLES T. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at No. 2116 Spruce street, in-the city and county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful ments in Golf-Balls, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to the manufacture of balls for playing golf orsimilar games; and it consists in making the ball out of a combi- 1nation of vulcanized rubber and feathers, as

hereinafter described.

percha cover.

poses of my ofrubberis dissolved in benzin or other sol- In theaccompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of the ball. Fig.2 is a sectional View. Fig. 3 is an interior view of the ball prior tothe application of the gutta- To manufacture a golf-ball for thepurinvention, a sufficient quantity vent and powdered sulfur is addedthereto With theviscous liquid thus formed a quantity of feathers ismixed. The feathers are firstcleaned by soaking'in benzin. The mixtureis allowed to evaporate until it is thoroughly cohesive. The material isthen subjected to pressure between two hemispherical 3 pressure, andthereby formedinto a hard ball,

dies and to vulcanizing heat while under the as shown at A, Fig. 3. Tothe outer surface of the ball thus formed a covering of guttapercha orcaoutohouc may be applied, as shown at B, Fig. 2, the surface of thiscovering being scored or molded, as shown in Fig. 1.

While I do not limit myself to the proportions of rubber and feathersused, yet I find that it is desirable to have the feathers make up fromone-third to two-thirds of the weight of the mixture. I likewise do notlimit myself as to the proportions of rubber and sul-' for in themixture; but I find that a combination of about fifteen parts sulfur toone hundred parts rubber isa desirable one. I

also find that it'is desirable to add to the materials mentioned abouton e-third their weight of zinc oxid as a filling. J The resultant massImprove after the pressure has been applied and it has been vulcanizedis exceedingly hard andelastie and at the same time exceedingly strong.The feathers interlacing in all directions tie the ball together, sothat it forms a hard elastic mass, the elasticity and strength of whichare increased by the rubber being vulcanized. In this way I havesucceeded in producing balls so hard and compact that if made of theproper size their surface may be molded or scored and the ball used forplay without the application of any gutta percha or other cover; but myinvention contemplate-s the application of the cover as the preferredform of manufacture.

In addition to the strength which the interlacing feathers impart to theball there is a great saving of cost obtained by using them,

as the price of feathers per pound is very much less than the cost ofindia-rubber. In order that the ball may be weighted as required, asmall core of lead orcork may be added in the center, if desired; butusually this is not nec- 'essary.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A golf-ball, composed ofrubber combined with feathers, substantially as described.

2. A golf-ball composed of vulcanized rubber combined with feathers,substantially as described.

3. A golf-ball having a center composed of vulcanized rubber combinedwith feathers and a surrounding gutta-percha shell, substantially asdescribed.

4. A golf-ball having a center composed of vulcanized rubber and zincoxid combined with feathers, with a surrounding gutta-per cha shell,substantially as described.

5. A golf-ball, having a center composed of rubber intimately mingledand united in all its parts by feathers mixed therein, substantially asdescribed. I

CHARLES T. THOMPSON.

